One of the most frequently asked questions I get about billing for pharmacist services is “How can a consultant pharmacist use the incident to billing codes in an ambulatory care clinic?”

The easy rule of thumb is to know whether that service is beholden to the direct supervision (aka. Incident-to criteria) or the general supervision requirements.

When implementing a new service as a consultant pharmacist there are a few things to keep in mind regarding the supervision of auxiliary personnel.

1. Incident to billing codes use must fit incident to billing requirements for direct supervision

These services must be performed under direct supervision – The physician must be in the office suite/building.

• incident-to CPT codes for ambulatory care clinics 99211-99214

2. Billed at 100% physician’s fee schedule and must be face-to-face.

99211 – nurses’ visit – 5 minutes – no medical decision making
99212 – 10 minutes – straightforward/little to no medical decision making
99213 – 15 minutes – low level of medical decision making
99214 – 25 minutes – moderate level of medical decision making

3. Different Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) have different requirements regarding auxiliary or non-physician personnel.

Also check your state pharmacy practice act and the language around collaborative practice agreements

CONCLUSION

Consultant pharmacists can use the incident to CPT codes 99211-99124 to bill through the physician’s NPI under the direct supervision of a collaborative physician if the MAC and state’s pharmacist scope of practice act allows for it.

What services are you dreaming of implementing in 2019?

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